Grant and Roger do their season finale Goal Own Goal, and reflect on their passion project experience as authentically as possible. Talking about football, golf, tennis, boxing and more; good and bad, with no hesitation. As always. Enjoy your summer! Arrivederci, hopefully.
The boys host the founder of Wyscout, Matteo Campodonico, who explains how he developed his vision for moneyball for European football. From his love of Genoa FC, detesting Sampdoria, to being shown Sacchi videos as a player, and realizing the immense market for sports data in scouting and coaching. It’s a unique window into how the player and coach transfer market REALLY works. And how football and business are about to change! Matteo gives his incredible insight into the last 20 years of Italian football decline, and how PE may bring it back. A very bright man.
Grant and Roger are joined by F1’s Zarah Al-Kudcy to discuss balance and progress in sport. From Highbury to Hockenheim, via cricket and rugby, this amazing young sports executive was a delight, and an education. Take away? Sports at the top level needs more women!
Grant and Roger give us their own personal views on an amazing week for football on and off the pitch. The usual variety of content spreading from small Italian team Entella, to the incredibly entertaining Champions league. As always, everything is discussed from their own inimitable perspective. No punches pulled. No sacred cows. Only a great deal of juicy and honest insights and entertainment!
Grant and Roger welcome world class, and very erudite, cricketer Chris Cairns for a very honest conversation about played sport and the directions he sees in the business of sport. He firstly discusses how he has dealt with being the son of a great sportsman; then about the future of New Zealand sport, Allblacks and CVC; what takes a sportsperson to elite level; inside stories of great all rounders; Miller and the Don; Christchurch and the role of sports; matchfixing; and, finally, the future of sport content and rendered virtual worlds.
Following a compulsory eulogy for the greatest footballer Celtic FC has ever had, Billy Mcneill, Grant and Roger welcome a very special guest this week: Eddie Pepperell. A unique insight into the mindset and DNA of a top top golfer and very impressive young man. On and off the course, he is astonishingly deep, and yet not too serious. Just perfect. All we can say is we’ve got our golfer for the next generation.
A jammed packed episode for all sport lovers with a great guest. Matt Rogan, co-founder of Two Circles, one of the most forward-thinking sports marketing agency in the world. What a story Matt told us! Son of sporting parents; a reluctant wing back wanting to be Nevin; standing in the Shed; loving the lonely mental battle of tennis and golf; the attraction of the David Speedies in life; leadership culture in sport, Adrian Moorhouse, and building a great company vision; challenging governing bodies to grow and get better; sport, following music, a deep dive on modern data driven sports marketing; selling your company when the right time comes; a different view on Tiger’s redemption; the history of the U.K. in the Olympics; coaching kids in 2019. Just wow!
From Malibu to Augusta National, our hosts discuss NCAA and true sportsmanship; German bottle crashing at Dortmund; Neeta’s story changing young girls’ lives; Augusta showcasing women’s golf in all its splendor; “stop the greed” for ticket prices; Fulham going down; rebranding the FA for the politically correct; Strachan becoming MrAngry; not liking the scousers; soft London football. Splendid chat.
Grant and Roger delve into the world of Italian football with Federico Smanio. Ex pro, ex league director, currently running the wonderful Wylab sports incubator. Federico is a powerful and rare example of a professional athlete turned into a sports businessman thanks to his resilience, academic studies and sacrifice. His insight into the sport from all perspectives is totally authentic.
Grant and Roger enjoy commenting on the international week, dwelling on diverging fortunes for the home nations; the ongoing purgatory of Scotland, and the fearless youth of England. The return of Vialli to his beloved Sampdoria? Playing Serie A in China….thin end of the wedge? Points deductions for breaking FFP, end of “speculate to accumulate”? Ronnie O’Sullivan back at No1 in snooker. The clear evidence of the rise of women’s sport. And of course, the rugby big money saga again!
Roger and Grant host Richard Gillis, sports journalist, author (The Captain Myth) and all round thought leader. Astonishing insight on PE investors, leadership, sport polarisation, sporting myths, and authentic punditry (like Benaud). Also discussing Grant’s medal partner Eddy Pepperell, epic rugby comebacks, and F1 sports documentaries. So much in here for anyone reflecting on the changes on sport. As a fan, or big money investor. One of our best episodes. So much in here. Do absolutely not miss this!
Grant and Roger discuss charming the ladies at baseball, English clubs doing the business in Europe, fan invasions and paying the price, bribing sports directors to get into Uni, and the magnificent chaos of Italian football.
The lads welcome Dave Cormack. Based in the US and a massively successful tech founder, he still gives his time and money to his hometown team of AberdeenFC. We talk Joe Harper, Bobby Clark and the arrival of Fergie. Winning attitudes. The upside of 1 team cities, new stadia, leadership, mentality, team building, people management and polarisation.
Grant and Roger discuss the musical chairs around their own clubs, the modern generation of players and how to coach them. They then open an inspiring door into American sports culture with their guest, Mark Yusko. American investor, hedge fund manager, and philanthropist, Mark is a true believer in college sports values. He has been promoting them at Notre Dame, the highly rated University from Indiana, USA. Mark leaves us with true wisdom, as a world class philanthropist and a huge sports fan.
Grant is back in the saddle with Roger, discussing the closing chapter in the career of Lindsey Vonn. Beautiful memories of the magnificent Roberto Baggio bring to light how much sacrifice is part of becoming a champion. We then hear an incredible golf story of today: how, not tipping your caddie enough, can get you slammed. Finally, Roger and Grant argue over how much a dead player should cost and what price loyalty to the “land of your fathers”.
Roger is joined by guest host Mike Meehall Wood, whilst Grant takes a well earned rest. Special guest interview with James Davies Yandle. Today’s podcast talks extensively about: sledging and homophobia; Scottish football culture and the ongoing pull of losing but authentic teams; the importance of real football people to mentor young kids (Eric Harrison!); the role of academies and undue pressures placed on children; working with Fabio Cannavaro; the traits of good and bad coaches; nature v nurture; when playing with Garcia make you realise the reality; is pro sport now curtailing the full university education route in sports (?); growing pains in professional rugby; emerging markets changing sport on and off the field; playing in other countries like NFL/NBA; the potential of Newcastle United and how big finance looks at it; hockey OTT mycujjoo; and, finally, what could be the best way to market niche sports.
Third and final part of our fabulous Meeting at the Reform Club in London! Grant and Roger conclude it, discussing the future: where to now for sport? Will the increasing influence of big finance undermine the authenticity our fathers gave us? And, in conclusion, will female sport keep us real?
Part 2 of our fabulous afternoon in London at the Reform Club with Murray Barnett, Steve Martin and Giles Morgan.
Following a short, yet poignant analysis of the recent sports industry report just published from Deloitte, the guys discuss GOATs and generational conflicts. The future of sport journalism, great storytelling and content that works.
So much wisdom and competence in the room!
Grant and Roger introduce the first session of the Meeting, an in-person discussion on the future of sport, and its related businesses, with top industry figures. In Part 1, extraordinary insight into the future of sponsorship and broadcasting, all from the perspective of the fan.
Grant and Roger return for 2019, sampling the crazily in-depth knowledge of die hard Gooner Colin O’Donnell. Asking if Wenger was really a bluff in debt to Graham. Charlie, Chipper and Fever Pitch, Arsenal TV and new stadia. Is Gerrard more of a winner than Rodgers. Oh and some Irish golf and rugby to top off what was truly a one of a kind interview.
Grant and Roger forensically dissect the Sunderland documentary and the inside persona of Martin Bain; calling “bullshit” on the media and their last chance saloon; models for top journos becoming their own brand; Charles Barkley and authentic dads; lamenting the end of Cup replays; the folly of caretaker managers; and private equity’s creeping control in sport.
Grant and Roger are totally absorbed by the storytelling talent of Giles Morgan, as he recounts the culture and glory of Welsh rugby, great commentators, taking on Beefy as a schoolboy, Björn Borg setting tennis alight, and different formats in golf. Oh and we get into all the very big issues in the industry. Engagement, authenticity, and the keeping the “magic of emotion”. Sporttech and learning. DONT NOT MISS THIS, TRUST ME!
Grant and Roger heap praise on Steve Clarke and Killie, enjoy the rehabilitation of Tyson Fury and boxing, rats at the Palace surely not?, the Pogba virus is only a symptom of the cancer, and “loser sexism” in football. Whilst introducing the life and times of the magnificent sport industry guru Giles Morgan.
Grant and Roger discuss with Steve his love of rugby and golf, from the importance of being a young flyhalf in Ulster during the Troubles, thru what works and doesn’t work today, to building esprit de corps at the Ryder Cup. Dangers for rights holders with the fragmentation of broadcast platforms and the prospects for OTT? Ending discussing women’s sport and Beckham, as sport moves more into celebrity, fashion and lifestyle.
Roger and Grant discuss the dignity of boxing and a new golden age with Dazn; Lowrys and the PFA, why Scudamore is worth every penny, and paying to go to the stadium to NOT see the game. We sample, pregame, the wisdom of guest Steve Martin MC Saatchi.
Roger and Grant are joined, this week, by Murray Barnett. In what promises to be a truly captivating interview, discussions range from what makes a great sports pundit, to Football and World Rugby, to the post Ecclestone era of Formula 1 motorsports and to the future of how the world’s sports fans could be consuming sport content while honoring the past.
Grant and Roger discuss the Fulham death spiral and how to trade it, magnificent violence in the Argentinian superclassico, the football Leaks X-ray into decaying values, fake caps for Rooney; ending with the glory of the work ethic authenticity of Marcelo Bielsa.
Amazing discussion with media legend and ultra fan Stuart Cosgrove on fan culture and what they now want from modern media, and how to service it. An honest critique of modern (Scottish) tv rights negotiations; the need to grasp the massive opportunities of sporttech. Genius ideas. Stuart beautifully articulates how you fall in love with your club and why. You can tell why Stuart has had an amazing career.
Ray Ranson talks to Roger and Grant about the evolution of U.K. football over 40 years. From Malcolm Alisson to Mourinho. Ray tells us stories from the perspective of player, chairman and financier including buying Coventry, the Rangers asset play, hedge funds, and trading sports assets. This is slow media that is full of gold.
Roger and Grant discuss some of this week’s sporting news that you may not have been on your radar and what it all means for the sporting community. Sports Streaming, Gary Neville, Messi, Halesowen Town, and the BBC all feature and as is often the case, Grant and roger don’t see eye to eye on everything in this full episode of Goal/Own Goal. But one thing they do agree on is that the Ray Ranson teaser will get everyone excited for a GREAT Part 2.
Jim Kerr of the infamous band “Simple Minds” takes time out from his world tour to join Roger and Grant in a discussion around football culture and connection, from boyhood to fatherhood. The modern generations and content. The role of authentic in music and sport, buying Celtic, and so much more. With irreverent commentary on all the week’s topical sporting news.
Pat Nevin, post punk world class footballer for Chelsea, Everton et al, club ceo, player unionist, pundit and thought leader, joins Roger and Grant in a discussion around modern fan culture compared to the Shed, today’s sport media, how Chelsea has developed under Sarri, is America changing European football, the skills needed to buy and run clubs, being ceo at motherwell, attitudes to diversity in football, and so much more. With irreverent comment on all the week’s topical news.
